Paul Tough writes, “We have been focusing on the wrong skills and abilities in our children, and we have been using the wrong strategies to help nurture and teach those skills.” In his book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, Tough celebrates the KIPPcharter schools. The KIPP schools use a “Character Growth Card.”

“This perpetual change which goes on in the United States, these frequent vicissitudes of fortune, these unforeseen fluctuations in private and public wealth, serve to keep the minds of the people in a perpetual feverish agitation, which admirably invigorates their exertions and keeps them, so to speak, above the ordinary level of humanity.”

This article grabbed my attention. First, as a parent I could relate and, secondly, as someone who is always intrigued by the life stories of people who overcome extraordinary life challenges using GRIT.

I think of the little boy who was blind since birth. Yet hasn’t let that stop him from releasing more than 30 number one albums and has since been referred to as “one of the greatest performers.” This same blind little boy has gone onto lead and be a spokesperson for many political campaigns and is, undoubtedly, an American cultural icon. That little boy is named Stevie Wonder. He has received 22 Grammy awards – the most Grammy awards ever received by any one single male recording artist.

To that end, what do you think about this article? Are we focusing on the wrong skills and abilities in our children when it comes to nurturing and teaching them? In your opinion, what should we be focused on to ensure our children’s success both personally and professionally?